Signaling device



April 18, 1939. K. N. DONALLY 2,154,670

SIGNALING DEVIC E Filed April 1o, 1937 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 1.8, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sroNALmo nevica maman N. noml'ly. acum, N. r. Application April 1o,1931, serial No. 13am 2Claims.

This invention has been developed with particular reference to theprovision oi means whereby the driver of an automobile may be infomed bythe operation of a signal on the automobile when the speed oi theautomobile reaches a predetermined speed limit which is subject tochange under dierent road conditions. In the embodiment of the inventionchosen for illustration and explanation o! the nature of the inventionthere is provided in a movable relation with respect to the scale,whether movable or stationary, of a speedometer, a switch or contactdevice which can be set on the scale at one point or another and isactuated by relative movement of the scale and a pointer so that throughsuitable electrical connections a signal either audible or visual isactuated for the purpose of warning the driver that the speed hasreached or is approaching a predetermined limit. It will be understood,however, as this description proceeds, that the invention is susceptibleof use for signaling other conditions than speed, as, for example,pressure in a boiler. It has been the object of the invention to providea signaling device of the character referred to which is capable o1'ready application to speed or other indicators, such as automobilespeedometers, pressure gauges and the like, without necessitating anyrearrangement or reconstruction of the indicating mechanism. In theaccompanying drawing the embodiment of the invention chosen forexplanation comprises a movable carrier mounted on the rim of a dialspeedometer and a switch mounted on the carrier so that it may beshifted to diilierent points of the indicator scale and adapted to beactuated by the pointer in its movement so as to close an electriccircuit through the signal which in this case is shown as an electriclamp. It will be understood, however, that the invention, as pointed outin the accompanying claims, is capable of expression in otherembodiments than that now to be described.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an ordinary dialspeedometer mounted on the instrument board Aof an automobile and havingthe signaling device incorporated therewith, the glass front of thespeedometer being broken away and part of the frame of the speedometerbeing shown in section.

Figure 2 is a view of the same in elevation and partly in section on theplane indicated by the broken line 2-2 of Figure 1 with parts brokenaway or removed to show other parts behind them.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the switch block mounted on the rimof the speedometer,l the electrical connections, the spindle o1' theswitch and a portion of the speedometer pointer being also shown. i

Figure 4 is a view in sectional elevation on the pianse indicated by thebroken line 4-4 ot Figure Figure 5 is a sectional plan view on the planeindicated by the broken line 5 5 of Figure 4, the top member o! theswitch block being removed.

Figure 6 isa sectional plan view on the plane indicated by the brokenline 8--6 ot Figure 6, the lower member of the switch being brokenawait; to show the locking or bearing plate below Figure 7 is a view inperspective of a supporting block of insulating material carried by theswitch spindle;A and Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the switchspindle with its contact member and the arms through which it isactuated by the speedometer pointer. a

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated there is arranged on theinstrument board, a portion of which is shown at i in Figure 1, a dialspeedometer 2 of usual construction, having a dial 3 on which appear thespeed indications from zero to 100, a circular frame 4, and a pointer 5which may be actuatedv asusual from one of the automobile wheels througha cabled connection 5*.

On the frame 4 is mounted an annular carrier 6 which is provided with agear 1 in engagement with a pinion 8 on a spindle 9 which is mounted inthe frame of the speedometer and is provided with a thumb nut lil sothat the carrier can be given movement of rotation in one direction orthe other on the speedometer frame.

Supported by the carrier is a switch block indicated generally at i i.For convenience in construction the switch block comprises three plates,I2, i3 and i4, of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material,secured together by screws l5. The middle plate i 3 is chamberedcentrally, as at I3, and it receives a conductor terminal I6 providedwith a spring-pressed contact plunger I6".

Mounted in a suitable bearing I2, supported in the top plate i2 and in abearing 6* supported by the carrier 6, is a switch spindle il,preferably mounted in a plane parallel with the plane oi' the dial.Secured to the spindle near its upper end is a contact arm l'll and alsomounted on the spindle is a block I8 of insulating material recessed, asat I8, to receive the contact arm I1'. Also secured. to the spindle I1",near its lower end, is a two-armed member I1b for coaction with thepointer 5 which in its movement in one direction, as from left to rightin Figure 1, etiects a partial rotation of the spindle i1 and places thecontact arm I1a in contact with the terminal Il, closing the circuitthrough the alarm, as will be described. In the movement of the pointer5 in the opposite direction, when the speed has exceeded 60, forexample, and then moves from right to left in Figure 1, the pointerengages the other arm I1b and causes the arm I1* to be moved out ofcontact with the terminal I6, breaking the circuit through the alarm.

It will be understood that the spindle I1 and the terminal I 6constitute the two terminals of an electrical circuit which includes analarm I9, shown here as an electric lamp, and a source of electricalenergy, represented here as a battery 20. As represented here thecircuit includes wires 2l and 22 connected respectively to the terminalsI2, I1 and I6 and sumciently slack to permit the shifting of the switchblock from one point to another of the scale formed on the dial. 'I'hecircuit is here shown as completed by a Wire 23 from the lamp I9 to thebattery 20, but it will be obvious that the circuit might be completedon one side or the other of the battery through some part of thesupporting frame or mechanism or through a ground.

For convenience in construction and in the assembling of a three-partblock of insulating material the bottom plate I4 may be formed with aslot I4a and to provide a bearing for the spindle I1 and to prevent itsdisplacement in the slot I4 there is provided a locking plate 24 formedwith a slot 24Hl which may be slipped into place under the plate I4 oithe insulating block with its slot 24a in registration with the slotI4*1 and then turned to place the slot 24* out of registration with theslot I4, as shown in Figure 6, and secured in position by pins or screws24b passed through the plate 24 into the insulating plate I4.

It will be understood that when the carrier has been shifted withrespect to the scale to place the switch block II with its spindle I1 inregistration with the predetermined speed indication, as for example,and the speed, for example, is raised to 55, as indicated by the pointer5, the pointer will cause such apartial rotation of the spindle I1 andthe contact arm I1* as to close the circuitbetween such arm and theterminal IU, and that thereupon the signal will be actuated to indicateto the driver. either by eye or ear, that the speed has reached thepredetermined limit. So long as the speed is maintained at or over suchpredetermined limit the signal will continue to be actuated and when thespeed.ialls below the predetermined limit the pointer will cause suchpartial rotation of the spindle I1 through contact with the other arm I1as to break the circuit between the terminal I6 and the contact arm I1land the operation of the signal will be discontinued.

Whether the signal is audible or visual it will be evident that, thesignal being either within the general vision of the driver or withinhis hearing, the driver will be warned that the limit of speed has beenobtained and continues without requiring him to take his eyes from theroad.

It will be obvious that various changes in details oi.' construction andarrangement can be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and that the invention is not to be regarded as restricted,except as pointed out in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit controlling device consisting of a movable pointer, amovable carrier, a switch block mounted on the carrier and comprisingthree plates of insulating material, the middle plate being recessed, aconductor terminal mounted in the middle plate, a spindle, a recessedblock of insulating material mounted on the spindle, a contact armmounted on the spindle in the recess of the middle plate, and a twoarmedmember mounted on the spindle for c0- action with the pointer.

2. A circuit controlling device consisting of a movable pointer, amovable carrier, a switch block mounted on the carrier and comprisingthree plates o! insulating material, the middle plate being recessed, aconductor terminal mounted in the middle plate, a spindle, a recessedblock of insulating material mounted on the spindle, a contact armmounted on the spindle in the recess of the middle plate, and a membermounted on the spindle for coaction with the pointer, the bottom platebeing slotted to receive the spindle and the middle plate being alsoslotted to receive the spindle.

KINGMAN N. DONALLY.

